The Golden State Valkyries took Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals series versus the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. The Valkyries won 71–60 to take an early lead in the best-of-five series. The standout performance of the game came from Golden State's Gabby Williams as she recorded a double-double by posting 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
This stat line put Williams in the WNBA history books as she became the 10th player in postseason history to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a single playoff game. Sunday marked her first double-double of the year, as Williams didn't hit 10 rebounds in a single game during the 2026 regular season. Williams is also the first WNBA player since Alyssa Thomas in 2023 with multiple 25 points, five rebounds and five assists games in the postseason.
Her first time hitting this mark came in the Game 2 loss to the Dallas Wings in the playoff first-round when Williams scored a whopping 36 points, six rebounds and seven assists. What makes Sunday's game even more special for Williams is that she grew up in the Bay Area, and she's now been a part of the Valkyries' second postseason run in their history. The Bay Area has shown out for the Valkyries, and Williams praised the community during her post-game press conference.
"I don't even have the words for it. Like growing up here and knowing what this community has been about, and seeing it at this level, means everything," Williams said. "The Bay has always been love, the Bay has always been a community like this.
Now like all these people that have been Bay Area legends who I've looked up to as a kid, it feels like a big party." Game 2 of the series will take place on Wednesday night in the Bay Area. The Aces and A'ja Wilson will likely come back with a vengeance, so Williams and the rest of the Valkyries will need to step up if they want to avoid a 2-0 deficit.
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